Marriages between prestigious families normally require half a year or a full year to complete all the wedding procedures, but Lu Zhuo’s condition was severe, and the King of Hell could claim his life at any moment—there truly was no time to delay.

Duchess Ying and Old Madam Wei discussed and decided that the two families would finalize the marriage contract that very afternoon and send out invitations. Tomorrow, Earl Cheng’an’s mansion would host a trousseau banquet for Wei Rao, Duke Ying Mansion would send all the betrothal gifts, and on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, they would formally welcome the bride.

For Duke Ying Mansion, they were merely moving their originally planned wedding date from the eighteenth of the twelfth month forward a few days. Everything had already been prepared at home, so they could manage it in an orderly fashion. As for Earl Cheng’an’s mansion, with its simple household and not many relatives and friends, arranging ten or so tables of a feast on short notice wasn’t difficult either.

The only tricky matter was the time constraint—where could they obtain a proper and magnificent wedding dress for Wei Rao?

Duchess Ying took charge of this matter, but just as she was about to make preparations, Eunuch Zheng from Emperor Yuanjia’s side arrived at Earl Cheng’an’s mansion with two female officials from the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau.

Old Madam Wei led the entire family to receive the imperial edict, all kneeling with a rustle in the front courtyard.

Earl Cheng’an’s mansion was truly too lively today, causing curious onlookers to linger outside the gates, with neighbors on both sides straining their ears.

Eunuch Zheng raised his voice to read the imperial edict, the general meaning being: Duke Ying’s heir, Lu Zhuo, bravely fought enemies and was severely wounded, while Fourth Miss Wei Rao of Earl Cheng’an’s mansion harbored righteousness and was willing to bring Lu Zhuo good luck. Emperor Yuanjia was deeply gratified and, knowing the marriage was rushed, specially bestowed upon Wei Rao a complete set of phoenix crown and ceremonial robes to honor Miss Wei’s virtue and comfort the loyal heart of the good general who protected the country.

Accompanying Eunuch Zheng’s cadenced voice, tears sparkled in Old Madam Wei’s eyes.

Her granddaughter was forced to go to the Lu family to bring good luck because of threats from the Empress Dowager. At least His Majesty was quite wise and had somewhat compensated her granddaughter.

“This subject’s daughter kowtows in gratitude for imperial grace!”

Under Old Madam Wei’s gratified gaze and amid the jealous stares of Guo Shi and her daughter, Wei Rao kowtowed in thanks and received the imperial edict with both hands.

Eunuch Zheng helped Wei Rao up and said to Old Madam Wei: “Time is pressing. Old Madam, please take Fourth Miss to have her measurements taken right now so this servant and his party can return to the palace quickly. His Majesty has ordered that the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau must finish embroidering the wedding dress and deliver it to Fourth Miss’s hands before sunset tomorrow evening.”

Old Madam Wei hurriedly accompanied Wei Rao to take measurements.

After seeing off Eunuch Zheng’s party, Old Madam Wei told Wei Rao to return to her room while she went with her son and daughter-in-law to discuss various matters for the next two days.

“Have all the invitations been sent out?” Old Madam Wei asked.

This was mainly Guo Shi’s responsibility. Guo Shi forced a smile: “They’ve all been sent out. Would Mother like to review them?”

Old Madam Wei only asked about one family: “Was one sent to Princess Shou’an?”

Earl Cheng’an looked at his wife. Guo Shi’s expression changed as she stammered: “We no longer have marriage relations—why invite her?”

Old Madam Wei laughed coldly. Before she could speak, Earl Cheng’an scolded Guo Shi: “Princess Shou’an is Raorao’s maternal grandmother. Why do you think we should invite her? What are you still sitting there for? Go write an invitation immediately!”

Guo Shi glared at her husband and slunk off to write the invitation.

Old Madam Wei sighed and instructed her son: “Tonight, explain things to her properly. When Princess Shou’an arrives tomorrow, we absolutely cannot be discourteous.” For the sake of her deceased second son, Old Madam Wei didn’t want to see Princess Shou’an, but for Raorao’s sake, she was willing to set aside past grievances. These few days, Raorao’s dignity was most important.

While the elders were busy, Wei Chan came to speak with Wei Rao.

Wei Rao was packing her trunks. When she heard Wei Chan had come, she told Bitao and Liu Ya to continue organizing while she stepped out of the inner room to meet Wei Chan in the main hall.

“Does Third Sister need something from me?” Wei Rao asked with a smile while inviting Wei Chan to sit.

Wei Rao was naturally beautiful with an alluring appearance. When she smiled, her phoenix eyes rippled with endless spring charm, looking at anyone as if they were the only person in her eyes.

Wei Chan had been sisters with Wei Rao for fifteen years and was long immune to Wei Rao’s beauty. Instead, she believed Wei Rao was doing it deliberately, deliberately acting so beautiful and seductive to deceive everyone, scheming to earn herself the reputation of a peony flower. Peonies were the king of flowers, and herbaceous peonies were their ministers—how could Wei Rao be worthy?

Wei Chan preferred calling Wei Rao a little vixen, a slutty vixen!

The fact that Wei Rao was marrying Lu Zhuo deeply stimulated Wei Chan, making her jealousy burn more fiercely than ever before.

“Fourth Sister is about to marry. As her older sister, I can’t bear to part with you, so I came to spend more time with you,” Wei Chan said, struggling to hide her true thoughts.

Wei Rao was happy to watch the show: “Sister needn’t be sad. When I have time, I’ll often return to visit Grandmother.”

Wei Chan had been observing Wei Rao. Seeing Wei Rao smile so happily, proud of marrying Lu Zhuo soon, Wei Chan couldn’t help but sting her: “Is Fourth Sister truly willing to bring good luck? I heard Young Master Lu has been unconscious for nine consecutive days. If he… wouldn’t Fourth Sister waste five years for nothing?”

Wei Rao’s first two conditions had already spread throughout the capital, with Wei Chan being among the first to know.

Wei Rao lowered her head and clutched her handkerchief: “That’s Young Master Lu. Being able to remain a widow for him would also be my good fortune.”

Wei Chan knew it—Wei Rao couldn’t possibly not like Lu Zhuo. Most infuriating was that Wei Rao had gotten her wish!

What she intended to upset Wei Rao with was exactly what Wei Rao welcomed. Nothing more she could say would matter. Wei Chan stood up with an ugly expression and left directly with her maid.

Wei Rao raised her head and watched Wei Chan’s angry retreating figure, suddenly thinking that those young ladies who both admired Lu Zhuo and enjoyed stepping on her probably felt exactly like Wei Chan at this moment.

This was just bringing good luck. If Lu Zhuo woke up and, according to their agreement, had to pretend to be a loving couple with her in public, how much more would those young ladies hate when they saw it?

Wei Rao didn’t care about their cold mockery, nor would she care about their envy and jealousy—it was all fleeting. However, being able to see them furious yet helpless was like watching a ridiculous good show, which could add considerable amusement.

The next day, the twelfth of the twelfth month.

Earl Cheng’an’s mansion held the trousseau banquet in the morning, and Duke Ying Mansion would send all the betrothal gifts in the afternoon.

From early morning, Yongning Lane became packed with people—those coming as guests, those coming to watch the excitement, shoulder to shoulder.

“Make way, make way!”

A coachman wanted to clear the way. The common people blocking the middle of the road turned to look, and soon someone recognized them, shouting: “It’s Princess Shou’an’s carriage!”

Hearing this shout, all the people turned around with a rustle, making way while craning their necks to look at the carriage.

Princess Shou’an sat inside the carriage, with all the trousseau she’d brought following behind. As maternal grandmother, she had prepared eight chests of trousseau—one chest of land deeds, one chest of silver treasures, one chest of pearl hairpins and jewelry, one chest of silk and satin, plus tea leaves, wedding sweets, and other common trousseau gifts.

The watching crowd hadn’t seen enough before Princess Shou’an’s carriage had already entered Earl Cheng’an’s mansion.

Among those coming to Earl Cheng’an’s mansion to add trousseau today, none was more magnificent or generous than Princess Shou’an.

Eight chests of trousseau were carried directly to Old Madam Wei’s Zhengchun Hall.

Guo Shi and Wei Chan stared wide-eyed. Old Madam Wei was also startled by Princess Shou’an’s display. Was this still the low-key Princess Shou’an?

“Old Madam, you’ve truly arranged a good marriage for Raorao!” In front of all the guests, Princess Shou’an didn’t hide her dissatisfaction at all, saying with apparent praise but actual criticism.

The guests could see that the legendary Princess Shou’an, who supposedly desperately wanted to curry favor with dragons and phoenixes, did not approve of marrying her granddaughter to Duke Ying Mansion for glory.

Princess Shou’an played the villain, so Old Madam Wei had to play the hero, smiling: “Young Master Lu is handsome and has merit in defending the country. If our Raorao can bring good luck to Young Master Lu, it would also serve the court. Old Princess, please sit quickly. After such a bumpy journey, first drink a bowl of hot tea to warm your stomach.”

Princess Shou’an didn’t sit but went straight to the courtyard to find Wei Rao.

Wei Rao was entertaining some female guests. When Princess Shou’an arrived aggressively, the female guests immediately scattered like birds and beasts.

Wei Rao sat on the couch in red makeup. Seeing her grandmother enter and glare at her without speaking, Wei Rao smiled, got down, pushed her grandmother to sit on the couch, and whispered: “Aren’t you afraid of offending Duke Ying Mansion by acting like this?”

Princess Shou’an snorted: “You’re going to be the future Duchess Ying—why should I fear offending the Lu family?”

She had wanted her granddaughter to marry into a prestigious family, but she never wanted her granddaughter to marry into a prestigious family as a widow. Remarrying wasn’t the issue, but why rush to become a widow for no good reason?

Wei Rao leaned close to her grandmother’s ear and explained her true intentions.

Princess Shou’an breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought Old Madam Wei and Earl Cheng’an were forcing her granddaughter to marry.

“You’re still at a loss. For the third condition, you shouldn’t have set any five-year limit. You should have made Lu Zhuo promise never to divorce you for life. Only by becoming the Lu family’s matriarch would you not be wronged,” Princess Shou’an said, dissatisfied.

Wei Rao had considered such a condition but disdained it: “Duke Ying Mansion is good, but if Lu Zhuo doesn’t like me, why should I desperately cling to his wife’s position? I’m marrying him only to counter the Empress Dowager, not because I want him as a person. When the Empress Dowager dies in the future, I’ll immediately leave the Lu family with fifty thousand taels and find a good man who both likes me and whom I like.”

Princess Shou’an had never met Lu Zhuo but had only heard that this young man was quite decent.

But her granddaughter was right—no matter how good a man is, he’s not worth a woman abandoning her dignity to beg for his favor. The more you beg, the less you get.

“Fine then. Anyway, His Majesty has already bestowed the phoenix crown and ceremonial robes—you have to marry whether you want to or not.” Princess Shou’an thought it through and was about to return to the banquet. “We’ll talk more tonight. Don’t delay the proper business.”

Princess Shou’an entered the room energetically and left energetically.

In the afternoon, Duke Ying Mansion came to deliver betrothal gifts. Just the one hundred thousand taels of silver nearly blinded the common people’s eyes.

“One hundred thousand taels! And they still say the Wei family isn’t after money?”

“After what money? They already said if the good luck fails, they won’t take a single coin of this silver and will remain widowed for Young Master Lu for five years.”

If it were any other woman, remaining widowed for life would be expected and not worth mentioning. But the Zhou family women had a custom of remarrying, so regarding Princess Shou’an’s granddaughter, Fourth Miss Wei, no one expected her to remain widowed from the start. Fourth Miss Wei voluntarily proposing to remain widowed for five years became a virtue.

“What if Young Master Lu lives? Then all one hundred thousand taels would be Fourth Miss Wei’s?”

“So what if they are? She brought Young Master Lu back to life and will also bear children for the Lu family. She’s a proper Earl’s mansion daughter—can’t she take one hundred thousand taels as dowry? Fourth Miss Wei’s aunt is the richest person in the Jin region—does she lack this one hundred thousand taels? Didn’t you see how much land deeds and silver Princess Shou’an added as trousseau this morning?”

“I, I just think Fourth Miss Wei has a bad reputation and doesn’t deserve to marry Young Master Lu, much less take so many benefits.”

“Ha! What big words! If a proper Earl’s mansion daughter doesn’t deserve it, does your pockmarked daughter? Then why didn’t Duchess Ying take a fancy to her and bring Duke Ying to personally propose at your house?”

“You—I wasn’t talking about you. Why are you always targeting me?”

“I just look down on you, gossipy, petty people. When you can’t get something yourself, you step on Fourth Miss Wei and make snide remarks!”